Pensioners' rights

1 am confused by Hugh Faulkner (October 27) encouraging pensioners to claim their rights on the one hand, while denigrating their political activities on the other. It is not surprising that so many elderly people are confirmed in a passive role when causes are taken up "on their behalf" and they are expected to stay in the background.
Many who work with the elderly are encouraged more by the emergence of the pensioner action groups than by the image of the "helpless old dear" still dominant in Help the Aged's publicity.
I hope that an alternative approach can be considered by those who may have been moved to help the elderly by Mr Faulkner's article. Paul Mansfield London, N W5